SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE is a campaign supported by OneAmerica, the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington, and in conjunction with Race to the Top. OneAmerica’s mission is to advance the fundamental principles of democracy and justice through building power in immigrant communities, in collaboration with key allies. We organize and advocate for and with a diversity of immigrant and refugee communities including Latino, African, and Asian and are proud to play a leading role in numerous national coalitions centering on immigrant rights, due process and closing the opportunity gap.

WHAT WE DO

The SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE activates education systems, families, and communities. We take a multi-faceted approach to celebrating the power of bilingualism together:

*Communication & Awareness Campaigns to spread information about the significant benefits of bilingualism and the related importance of maintaining home language fluency. To support immigrant communities in embracing multilingualism and improving access to educational opportunities, we have created informational videos, toolkits, and the new website you are now visiting! We further promote awareness by strategically raising awareness and spreading this information through communities, educational systems, and on social media networks.

We launched the SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE campaign formally in 2017, featuring a new website that can serve as a hub for bilingual empowerment information, with a wide range of supportive resources. We also held our first cross-cultural community event, Celebrating the Power of Bilingualism.

*Community Organizing to identify and develop leaders within education and immigrant communities. Our organizers include key educators and Parent and Student Ambassadors, who help spread awareness of the importance of bilingualism and home language, gather and share experiences and testimonials, and work together to improve systematic recognition of the unique assets and capabilities of bilingual students.

*Policy Advocacy. OneAmerica has a long track record of actively educating policy makers and developing policy about immigrant and immigration issues. For the SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE campaign, we have worked on local, state, and federal policy platforms. We bring more people to the table in the conversation about bilingualism and bilingual students. We have worked with key officials in various school systems to spread awareness and implementation of educational programs benefiting bilingual students, and to expand availability of World Language Credit programs. We have also advocated for school board policies and resolutions that honor language. Wherever possible, we encourage systems and procedures that better activate student access to beneficial programs such as the World Language Credit and the Seal of Biliteracy. OneAmerica is proud to have been a key force behind the State’s Dual Language Bill, signed earlier this year. (To learn much more about our policy work, please visit the Policymakers page)

We have much work left to do and welcome your participation on the road ahead.